L.A. original punks Redd Kross performed a blistering set earlier this year in support of their excellent 2012 album Researching the Blues, and now Amoeba.com has an exclusive download of the title track from that performance! You know it’s legit because Redd Kross bassist Steve McDonald did the mixing himself. Buy it now on MP3, M4A or WAV file.

While the album (and track) is available on CD ($14.98), only Amoeba.com includes the download of the We Are Scientists track, which comes on the limited edition CD. The entire album download is $9.98 on MP3, and also available on either ALAC or WAV file (that’s fancier fidelity, for non-audiophiles) — as opposed to $11.98 on iTunes in MP3 only, and without that bonus track. The sale is limited, so if you’re thinking about picking it up, do it soon!

The album is a two-disc set featuring songs from The Civil Wars, Umphrey’s McGee, Delta Spirit as well as a score of unsigned artists recorded live at college radio stations around the country. Proceeds from the album go toward the College Radio Defense Fund, putting money toward things like new equipment, repairing existing equipment, supporting promotional events and other much-needed help.

In the aftermath of the US losing several key college radio stations over the past couple of years including KUSF 90.3FM at the University of San Francisco and Rice University's equally beloved college station KTRU in Houston, TX - parties directly affected along, with the countless others that are similarly endangered, have banded together to protest these injustices are still fighting the good fight.

Many of these same individuals are also celebrating the stations they still have while simultaneously building awareness of the cultural value & importance of college and community radio as an independent media voice. This they are doing via College Radio Day which for its inaugural event last year witnessed the participation of over 350 different radio stations. And this year's College Radio Day, taking place seven weeks from now on October 2nd, is shaping up to be an even bigger event in every way with approximately 500 radio stations already signed on to participate in this grand scale broadcast event.

Just as Record Store Day was started by struggling brick and mortar record shops round the country who joined forces, College Radio Day was begun in a somewhat similar vein. The main man responsible for College Radio Day is Rob Quicke of New Jersey's William Paterson University station WPSC who, in celebration of the second edition of this annual event, is compiling a special benefit compilation album by a wide array of artists. Side A reportedly will feature unsigned artists selected by a committee of stations while Side B will feature signed/known artists that are down for the cause and want to acknowledge the support they received from being played on College Radio over their respective careers. All proceeds will go directly to a transparent College Radio Defense Fund established by Quicke. This week I caught up with Rob to find out more about College Radio Day and this compilation which will be available through Amoeba upon its release.

Amoeblog: For those who don't know the full background on College Radio Day; how did it come about?